Renishaw's Equator gauging system
Whether it is businesses opting to choose local suppliers, minimise costs, or COVID and Brexit challenges, Apex Metrology has seen a rapid change in its customer base.
The Edinburgh-based coordinate measuring machine (CMM) specialist's services include part inspection and verification, software programming, validation and training, system maintenance, installation, retrofits and upgrades, and is particularly active in the aerospace, automotive, energy, and medical industries.
“With advances in product design software, material technologies, and metal 3D printing, we began to see a general increase in the different types and volumes of CMM projects we were presented with,” said Brian Young, Managing Director of Apex. “This technological evolution, combined then with the Brexit decision and the global COVID-19 pandemic, created a new set of business challenges to address.”
He continued, “We knew we had to adapt and further augment the service we were offering. Customer planning horizons were also becoming shorter. What were previously quite predictable and cyclical demands became far less assured. It was clear that we needed to become even more agile than we were and to introduce even higher levels of future-proofing.”
As a small independent business that is continuing to grow, Apex says it opts to invest in the latest technology to provide its customers with best-fit technology solutions. In line with this decision, the company decided to increase its in-house capabilities with a strategic investment in next-generation metrology equipment.
REVO 5-axis head providing infinite positioning capabilities
How Renishaw's REVO 5-axis technology and Equator gauging system solved Apex Metrology's issues
Founded in 2003, Apex Metrology has been closely partnered with Renishaw since its inception.
Having discussed its challenges with the British engineering firm, a rigorous review of its facilities was completed. This review found that Apex would benefit from adopting a 5-axis CMM technology, as well as a high-precision shop-floor gauging system.
Following the review findings, Apex completed a retrofit of its existing DEA Global 3-axis CMM, using the REVO 5-axis multi-sensor measurement system. The system features a positioning head, tactile measuring sensors, a controller, and Renishaw’s MODUS software. By upgrading its pre-existing 3-axis CMMs, Apex saved both money and time.
Apex also invested in Renishaw’s Equator high-speed comparative gauging system, for the inspection of medium to high-volume manufactured parts. The system works by comparing production parts with a reference part.
“REVO 5-axis technology and the Equator gauging system has had a big impact on our business. They have given us that extra turnkey capability we needed to be more responsive in the face of rapidly evolving customer demand. Change is ultimately inevitable, and we all need to be ready for it,” said Apex Metrology.
Revo system key information:
- Features two rotary axes, as well as three linear axes on the CMM frame.
- REVO has its own error map.
- The system's probe only needs to be calibrated in one position.
- The system saves calibration and set-up time.
Equator gauging system key information:
- Reduces scrap and bottlenecks.
- Easily automated.
- Low cost.
- The system is versatile and can be re-programmed.
- Thermally insensitive.
The impact of Apex's investment, and how it has affected the business
Since its investment in Renishaw’s technology Apex has seen that the company is now able to support a broader customer base while also handling the measurement requirements of more complex parts. This has had a direct positive impact on the CMM supplier’s measurement capacity, throughput, and productivity.
Additionally, Apex Metrology is now also able to augment its customer offering, as it has extended its natural area of competence to cover 5-axis and 3-axis CMM technology. Since the retrofit, Apex can handle a larger variety of new customer projects including its first commercial gauging project within the automotive sector.
"It's not all about high volumes of parts though, customers bring us the more demanding parts to be measured, those with high complexity. We help them reduce their production bottlenecks and provide them with training services that are built on real experience and are not just out-of-the-box'," said Young.
He added, "Many businesses operating legacy 3-axis CMMs are faced with dilemmas. Older machines are facing technical obsolescence, particularly with the control system and software, yet mechanically they remain perfectly sound. 5-axis retrofitting avoids the need to buy all new by boosting performance and adding longevity. It's an opportunity we're now able to bring to customers."